WCGA • Collegiate Gymnastics Growth Initiative

We
Stand With
Iowa State Gymnastics

Cyclones Gymnastics • Ames, Iowa

"This is bigger than any single program. This is bigger than any single season. This is about creating a legacy that transforms women's collegiate athletics."

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A Season Paused, Not a Dream Ended

On February 8, 2026, Iowa State University announced the cancellation of the remainder of its women's gymnastics season. The decision came down to one thing: the health and safety of the student-athletes who represent the Cyclones.

"The health, safety and overall welfare of our student-athletes is paramount, and it is our responsibility to ensure that they are able to safely train and compete at the highest level."

– Shamaree Brown, Senior Associate AD for Student Services, Iowa State University

With five meets remaining before the Big 12 Championships, Iowa State made the call to cancel the remainder of the season. Our hearts go out to the student-athletes who dedicated themselves to this program and who deserve every opportunity to compete at the highest level.

This is a moment that demands our collective support, our advocacy, and our commitment to the future of this program. This is not the end of Cyclone gymnastics. Once a Cyclone, Always a Cyclone.


The Premier Women's Collegiate Sport Needs Every Program

Women's collegiate gymnastics is the female equivalent of football on the male side. The pageantry is phenomenal. The energy in a packed arena is electric. The fan experience is unlike anything else in women's athletics. And with Olympic women's gymnastics as the number one most-watched sport globally during the Games, the upside for the collegiate game is enormous.

But this sport doesn't reach its full potential when programs struggle. A program that succeeds and then lifts others creates momentum that benefits everyone. That's not just a talking point. It's the foundation of everything the Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association stands for.

Right now, it's our turn to rally around the Cyclones, their student-athletes, and everyone who has given everything to this program. We support them. We stand behind their future. And we make sure they come back stronger, better resourced, and ready to compete at the highest level.

A Sport Exploding in Popularity

This isn't a blip. This is a movement backed by record-breaking data at every level. And it's accelerating every single year.

+1,097%
NCAA Championship viewership growth since 2019
12.7M
viewers for the 2024 Olympic women's team final. The #1 most-watched Olympic sport
1.5M
peak viewers for the 2025 NCAA Championship on ABC. Highest in ESPN platform history
624K
viewers for a regular-season Florida vs. Alabama meet on ABC. Up against the NFL. A record for a non-championship telecast.
64,385
total home attendance at Utah in 2025. The Red Rocks are the hottest ticket in women's collegiate sport.
40%
higher ad engagement during women's sports programming vs. primetime TV. Brands like Vuori, Skims, and United Airlines are investing aggressively
~100
live broadcast hours across 8 ESPN platforms in 2025. The most expansive gymnastics season in ESPN history
99%
graduation success rate. The #1 GPA (3.77) and #1 Academic Progress Rate (994) among all women's NCAA sports.
Surging
Michigan (12,707 record), Michigan State (9,887 record, Jan 2026), and LSU (12,590 avg) are all setting new attendance marks. The momentum is national.

"There are two sports I have come across in my career at ESPN that I believe have unlimited potential: gymnastics and softball."

– Meg Aronowitz, Vice President of Production, ESPN


Why We Believe and Why You Should Too

Gymnastics provides the foundation for developing daring, strong, and confident women. The impact extends far beyond the competition floor. This is what we're protecting. This is what we're building.

🔥

Grit

We persevere through challenge. Building the premier women's collegiate sport won't be easy. Grit is what separates programs that talk about growth from programs that achieve it. We don't just endure. We use setbacks as fuel.

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Innovation

The premier women's collegiate sport won't be built by doing what's always been done. We pioneer new approaches to fan engagement, athlete development, and sport promotion. Attracting audiences beyond the traditional gymnastics world.

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Connection

We are stronger together. When one program faces adversity, the entire community shows up. A program that succeeds and then lifts others creates momentum that benefits everyone. We build genuine relationships and honor those who came before us.

🛡️

Stewardship

We protect what matters: the dreams of young women, the traditions built by programs before us, and the potential of a sport that can inspire millions. We use resources wisely and make decisions that strengthen both present success and future growth.

Passion

Passion is contagious. Our passion fills arenas. Our passion attracts sponsors. Our passion transforms casual observers into lifelong fans. You bring energy and enthusiasm to everything you do, inspiring others through your example.

This Sport Transforms Lives.
Every Program Matters.

Our gymnasts graduate at a 99% rate, lead all women's NCAA sports in GPA, and 76.8% are Scholastic All-Americans. They lead student organizations, volunteer in communities, and graduate ready to make an immediate impact. As Olympic gold medalist Bart Conner says: "They're the epitome of what a top-level student-athlete should be. It's the best money the university can spend."

Iowa State Will Come Back Bigger and Better

This is a temporary chapter in a long and proud Cyclone gymnastics story. Programs across the country have faced difficult moments and emerged stronger because the people around them believed in the mission and invested in the future.

The Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association and the Collegiate Gymnastics Growth Initiative stand firmly alongside Iowa State's administration, coaching staff, and student-athletes. We believe in this program. We believe in this sport. And we believe that when Iowa State returns to the competition floor, the Cyclones and the Hilton Coliseum crowd will remind everyone why women's collegiate gymnastics is the most electrifying experience in women's athletics.

The world is watching. The opportunity is here. The time is now.


Will You Help Us Build
The Premier Women's Collegiate Sport?

Contact Iowa State's administration to let them know you support their program, their student-athletes, and the future of Cyclone gymnastics. Spread the word online and in person. Attend a meet. Advocate at your institution. Invest in what these incredible student-athletes are building.

Stand With State.  #StandWithStateGymnastics

Once a Cyclone, Always a Cyclone.

This is bigger than any single program. This is bigger than any single season.
This is about creating a legacy that transforms women's collegiate athletics.

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